Latch-operating device



T. J. KEHOE.

LATCH OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY-2'4, ma.

Patented Nov; 9, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrice.

THOMAS J. KEHOE, or TOLEDO, onto, essisnon TO'THE WILLYS-OVERLAND COMPANY, or TOLEDO, GHIO, A, oonrona'rionor OHIO.

LATCH-OPERATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Iatent. Patented NO 9, 1920,

Application filed July 24, 1916. Serial No. 110,863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, T HoMAs J Knrioma citizen of the United States of'America, re.- siding at Toledo, Lucas county, Ohio, have invented new and useful Latch-Operating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to latch operating devices, and particularly to latch operating devices especially designed and adapted for automobile doors. The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved latch operating device for automobile doors, which may be constructed at low cost, and which may be very readily and quickly as sembled in place in the automobile door, and in which extreme accuracy in assembling is not necessary.

Further objects, and objects relating to details of manufacture and economies of construction, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims.

A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fragment of a motor vehicle body embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view 011 an enlarged scale of the latch operating device in cooperating relation with the latch;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line III-III Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. i is a sectional view on the line IV- IV Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line V--V looking in the direction of the arrow.

The motor vehicle body 1 is provided with the door 2 having mounted therein the latch 3 normally thrust outward by the spring 4:. This latch 3 is mounted to reciprocate in the latch box 5. Pivoted to the latch box 5 is the rockable or movable latch the latch,- say from holding position when the door 2 closed. The member 6 is provided with an eye 7 disposed in angular relation .toethe extent of the member 6. This eyeis engaged by the curved end of the rock arm 8 provided with screw-threaded engagement in the fulcrum ormounting pin 9 having the manually engageable means or handle 10 with the free end'll curved into position closely approximating the inner 1ining or upholstery of the door 2 to preclude catching of clothing therein.

The fulcrum bracket 12 is provided with screw holes 13 through which screws 14. may

extend to anchor the bracket in the frame of folded bracket portion 15 is the torsion] spring 17 having its other terminal engage the fulcrum member 9. This torsion spring 17 normally takes up lost motion between the members 8, 6 and the latch 3, the spring 17 being weaker and acting in opposition to the spring 4 and accordingly in a direction to assist in the upward swing of the free end of the handle 10 in serving to unlatch the latch 3 or move the latch 8 into withdrawn position.

The loose connection between the members 6 and 8, due to this spring 17 as a vibration take-up, has snug coaction at all times and the mounting of the bracket 12 may be varied through a considerable range without interfering with the operative assembly when the member 8 is in coacting position with the eye 7. Accordingly, considerable rapidity of assembly may be had in a device of simple construction, strong and positive in operation and effectively withdrawing the reciprocable member or latch.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

'1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a sliding latch bolt, a spring normally pressing said bolt outwardly, a"

pivoted lever for retracting said latch bolt, a roll back operatively associated with said lever to move it against the action of said spring and a second spring acting upon the roll back in opposition to the first mentioned V sarin to artiall overcome the resistance thereof and to yieldingly press the operating arm of the roll back against saidlever.

2. A device of the class described, comprising the combination of a sliding latch bolt, normally spring pressed outwardly; a

pivoted lever for retracting said latch bolt,

provided with an arm' extending at right angles thereto at 1ts upper end, and having an eye-therein; a roll-back having an armextending downwardly and provided with a curved lower end disposed in said eye; and means for operating said roll-back. V

3. A device of the class described comprising the combination of a sliding latch bolt, normally spring-pressed outwardly, a

pivoted lever for retracting said latch bolt,

provided with a lateral projection having a recess formed therein, a roll-back having an .arm engaging said lateral projection within said recess and means for operating said 7 THOMAS J. KEHOE. 

